BOSTON, MA – Today, the Massachusetts Public Health Association (MPHA) criticized a 33% proposed cut to local public health in Governor Baker’s fiscal year 2023 budget.  

“A proposed cut to local public health in the midst of a continuing global pandemic defies both logic and common sense,” said Carlene Pavlos, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Public Health Association. “It is made all the more egregious by the fact that the administration continues to place an enormous amount of responsibility on the shoulders of local boards of health.” 

The $5M cut proposed to the “Public Health Excellence Grant Program” at the Department of Public Health would negatively impact public health capacity and staffing in communities across the Commonwealth.   

“MPHA will work with our legislative allies to ensure that the House and the Senate budgets include the needed resources for our local boards of health,” continued Pavlos. “As they continue their essential work to deliver vaccines, conduct tests, and enforce public health guidance, local public health workers need and deserve the support of state policymakers.”  ##